AAA's national gas average fell to $3.98 Tuesday, the first time under $4 since July. Florida drivers are paying $3.77, while domestic Thanksgiving airfare sits at a 10-year high.
Good news for the Thanksgiving road trip: gas is under $4 a gallon again. AAA put the national average for regular at $3.98 on Tuesday, Nov. 10, the first time below $4 since July, CBS News reported.
That's 39 cents cheaper than a month ago. It's still 91 cents more than a year ago, when the average was $3.07, according to AAA.
Flying is another story. Domestic round-trip Thanksgiving fares are up 39% from 2025, ABC News reported Tuesday, the highest for the holiday in at least 10 years.
"Drivers are finally getting some real savings at the pumps," said Marie Dodds of AAA Oregon/Idaho.
How much is gas in Florida right now?
Less than the national average. AAA's Florida average was $3.77 on Tuesday, and the Orlando metro average was $3.78.
For comparison, Florida drivers paid $4.11 a month ago and $2.84 a year ago, AAA's data shows. So it's better, not great.
Prices could keep sliding. GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan expects them to ease into the holiday, CBS News reported. Stations are switching to cheaper winter-blend fuel, and crude oil prices have dipped from their October high.
The national average peaked at $4.50 on May 11, according to the Energy Information Administration, Fox Business reported.
How expensive are Thanksgiving flights this year?
Very. Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index, released in September, put the average domestic Thanksgiving round trip at $402, up 31%. ABC News' newer figure is a 39% jump. Hotels are holding steady at about $170 a night, Hopper said.
High jet fuel costs tied to the Iran war are a big reason, along with airlines trimming less profitable flights.
Orlando is one of the top U.S. Thanksgiving destinations, with New York City and Miami, according to Hopper.
What are the cheapest and busiest days to fly for Thanksgiving?
Hopper's numbers point to a few smart moves:
Cheapest departure: Monday, Nov. 23, about $370 round trip
Thanksgiving Day: about $371, almost as cheap
Priciest return: Sunday, Nov. 29, about $604
Cheaper return: Monday or Tuesday, about $350
Black Friday return: about $420
Sunday, Nov. 29, is also the busiest flying day, ABC News reported, citing Hopper data. American Airlines scheduled 7,021 flights that day, calling it its "largest operating day since the pandemic."
How many people are traveling for Thanksgiving?
Airlines for America projects nearly 29 million people will fly over the Thanksgiving break, ABC News reported. American expects more than 8 million customers on about 85,000 flights from Nov. 19 to Dec. 1.
United expects more than 500,000 customers a day in the same window. Its busiest day is Friday, Nov. 20, with more than 540,000, rising to about 600,000 on Nov. 29.
Amtrak expects record ridership and is adding Northeast Corridor capacity Nov. 20 to 30.
When does AAA release its Thanksgiving travel forecast?
AAA hasn't released its 2026 forecast yet. Last year, it came out Nov. 17 and called for a record 81.8 million travelers going 50 miles or more from home, about 73 million of them by car.
Orlando topped AAA's list of domestic Thanksgiving destinations last year, followed by Fort Lauderdale and Miami. We'll see if Florida keeps the crown.
What does this mean for a Disney World Thanksgiving trip?
Plan for crowds. Disney World is [keeping three parks open later Thanksgiving week](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/disney-world-thanksgiving-hours-3), and Lightning Lane Multi Pass [hit a record $45](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/disney-world-multi-pass-hits-45-record) for that week.
If you're driving, the gas math finally helps. If you're flying, a Monday or Tuesday return could save you about $250 over that $604 Sunday flight, using Hopper's averages.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
AAA (Nov. 10, 2026), national, Florida and Orlando gas averages and comparisons
AAA Oregon/Idaho (Nov. 10, 2026), national average change from a year ago and the Marie Dodds quote
CBS News (Nov. 10, 2026), first time below $4 since July, reasons and GasBuddy outlook
Fox Business (Nov. 10, 2026), the May 11 peak per EIA
ABC News (Nov. 10, 2026), 39% airfare increase, Airlines for America, American, United and Amtrak numbers
Hopper (Sept. 25, 2026), Holiday Travel Index fares, best days to fly and top destinations
FOX45 Baltimore (Nov. 17, 2025), AAA's 2025 Thanksgiving forecast and top destinations
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